Archive for the 'Devotional Thoughts' Category
May 31st, 2010 - Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a day that we typically consider a holiday – a time to get together with family and friends and have a good time! We may also visit the graves of those who are near and dear to us and who have departed from this life.
However, remember that Memorial Day was originally set aside to honor America’s “war dead”. While none of these other things are wrong things to do on Memorial Day, I want to challenge you. If you know a veteran of one of our wars, contact her/him today and just let them know you’re thinking about them.
Have a safe and blessed day!
May 24th, 2010 - Enjoy God’s Gifts
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. – James 1:17 (NIV)
God has given each of us many good gifts. Thank Him foer them, and enjoy them, today.
May 18th, 2010 - Words To Trust In
If you’re struggling today, read these words from Paul’s letter to the Philippians and believe them.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:6-7, 13
May 16th, 2010 - Worship The Lord
Today is the Lord’s Day. Let’s worship the Lord together as we read these words from Psalm 95.
Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Psalm 95:1-6 (NIV)
May 15th, 2010 - Praise The Lord
Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD. – Psalm 150:1-6 (NIV)
May 14th, 2010 - Better Days Are Coming
There are times when we just tend to be a little down – well, maybe a lot down. We just can’t seem to lift ourselves out of what feels like a pit of depression. It just seems to be dark inside our hearts, and we wonder if we will ever again feel the joy of Jesus permeating our souls.
It’s good to know that some of the great people of God felt like that, too. The Psalmist must have been going through a really tough time when he wrote Psalm 42:5. He wrote, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?”
I’m glad the psalmist just doesn’t end his writing there, though. He continues with these words. “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
One of the keys to getting through times when we are depressed is to put our hope in God. Now that word hope is often misunderstood. We think of hope as carrying some uncertainty – “I hope that happens, but I don’t know for sure.” The biblical concept of hope is a confident expectation. Biblical hope says, I know it will happen, and I’m going to wait expectantly for it to happen!” The psalmist was saying, “I will wait expectantly for God to bring me out of this, and I know I will praise Him for it.”
Whatever you’re going through today, I urge you to keep hanging in there. Keep waiting expectantly for God to bring you out of it, and fully expect to praise Him SOON!
If I can pray for you about anything specifically, feel free to send your prayer request to me. Have a blessed day in the Lord!
May 13th, 2010 - The “P” Word
None of us like the “P” word. Most of us don’t have it. We’re afraid to ask for it because asking for it will undoubtedly bring tough times. But it’s something we definitely need.
Have you figured out what the “P” word is yet? It’s PATIENCE!
We live in what I like to call a microwave society. We want everything in short order and with little, if any, effort.
But God tells us that it is important to be patient. Patience through difficult times builds our character, maturing us and making us more like Jesus. And, after all, isn’t that what living the Christian life is all about?
James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
This patience comes as we yield ourselves completely to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to develop His fruit in our hearts and in our lives. So when tough times come, as they certainly will, tlean heavy on God’s Holy Spirit for strength and – yes – PATIENCE.
S
May 11th, 2010 - I Am Praying For You Today
I just want to take a minute to let each of you know how much of an encouragement you are to me and to this ministry! Every day I see that more and more people are stoppping by this web site, and I am receiving prayer requests from all over the world. I am also receiving encouraging comments through Facebook. You who visit this site are truly awesome!!
I am praying the following prayer for each of you today – even if I do not yet know you. It is a prayer the apostle Paul prayed for the believers in Colosse, found in Colossians 1:9-12. May it come to pass in your life!
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”
May 8th, 2010 - A Scripture To Reflect On
Let’s celebrate God’s greatness by meditating on this Scripture today.
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
May 7th, 2010 - The Goodness of God
I sense God’s love and goodness in an awesome way this morning. He is so patient, loving, and forgiving toward us, and He is ever faithful to meet all of our needs.
My family and I have gone through an extremely tough three months since losing Ben. But two truths have been reemphasized to my heart. They are both found in the eighth chapter of the book of Romans.
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Not everything that happens to us is good, but God works for good in everything that happens in the lives of those who love him. No matter how bad it is, good will come by the grace of God.
Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” No matter how dark it gets, we are still loved with a perfect love by our perfect heavenly Father. We may not understand what we are going through, and we may never come to a complete understanding of our struggles in this lifetime. But one thing we know – absolutely nothing can separate us from His love!
May these truths minister to your heart as you read these words.